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FISH OILS BOOST HEART ATTACK RECOVERY: High doses of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil can aid recovery from a heart attack, say scientists.

Taking omega-3 improves heart function and reduces scarring in undamaged cardiac muscle, results from a clinical trial have shown.

Heart attack patients taking part in the trial were given either a 4g daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids for six months or a placebo.

Those taking omega-3 experienced a 5.8% reduction in left ventricular end-systolic volume index, a clinical marker which predicts heart attack patient outcomes.

They also had a 5.6% lower indication of scarred connective tissue formation in non-damaged heart muscle.

The results, published in the journal ‘Circulation’, involved 360 patients who were treated within a month of suffering a heart attack.

SWAP ANIMAL FOR PLANT PROTEIN: Swapping animal for plant protein in your diet can lead to a longer life.

A large US study found that every 3% increase in calories from plant protein reduced the risk of death from all causes by 10%. It was also associated with a 12% lower risk of death from heart disease.

In contrast, raising the animal protein share of calories by 10% led to a 2% higher risk of all-cause death and an 8% greater chance of dying from a heart problem.

Animal protein foods include all types of meat, fish, eggs and dairy products such as milk and cheese. Plant sources of protein include cereals, beans, nuts, legumes, soya and bread.

MEAT IS AS FATTENING AS SUGAR: No, we don’t have a vendetta against meat this week but studies show meat is contributing as much as sugar to the prevalence of global obesity.

According to the University of Adelaide, fats and carbohydrates are digested faster than protein, meaning the energy stored in meat is used later, or if not required, is converted and stored as fat in the body.